14 DAY TRIAL // Endless controversy has surrounded Miami-based (or so they say) Mac clone maker Psystar who, most recently, has decided to prove it can deliver while it is not yet known exactly how legal their installing Leopard on third party hardware is, the YouTube video Psystar has recently posted confirms that it has the ability to sell a system using Leopard for little money.
It is also revealed, towards the end of the video, that the presentation was edited and finalized on Final Cut Studio, on an Open Computer using (what else) Apple's Mac OS X Leopard. Psystar chose to run Quake 4 with all graphical options taken to the max on the Leopard-enabld Open Computer. The video also features a bit of Ubuntu and XP action.
For those who are only now picking up on this (endless) story, Psystar has started advertising its OpenMac, now called Open Computer, on April 14. The offer is indeed attractive: 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB of DDR2 667 memory, Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics, 20x DVD+/-R Drive, 4 USB Ports, 250GB 7200RPM Drive, all making up this cheap computer that runs Leopard - an alternative to Apple's more expensive Macs.
Psystar also says it will install Leopard on it for you, free of charge. Apple's OS, of course, adds to the total price of what you've ordered. The installation service, however, is free. Psystar says it can install Leopard's kernel straight from the OS X disc, using an EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) emulator and a few drivers. That is said to violate Apple's EULA (end user license agreement).
And so, the trouble started. First, Apple told Psystar to change the name of their computer, or else; then Psystar's credit card payment processor dropped out on them for not being honest with them; then, it was revealed that Psystar had listed as many as four different street addresses on its website since beginning to advertise the Open Computer, increasing its unreliability, and so on.
Psystar claims its Mac clones cost around one-quarter of what Apple's systems go for, also alleging that Apple increases the cost of Leopard-running hardware by as much as 80%.
Macnn.com points out that Blogger Gene Steinberg of The Mac Night Owl questioned Psystar's claim of offering a cheaper and more powerful computer than Apple's Mac mini. While the part with the low price stands tall, Psystar's Open Computer lacks two vital Mac-standard elements: a Firewire card ($200) and iLife (one of the best selling features for home users).